Soil devotees heading to Underground Festival

The two-day event starts this week (February 19) at Greystone - a regenerative organic vineyard in the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury.

“Underground is a place for the soil-obsessed among us to connect, learn and eat amazing kai, out on the land. It’s all about celebrating life, by digging deep into the source of it all - soil,” says Bailey.

She says the festival will have over “transformative sessions” where local and international farmers and retired farmers will dig into all things soil, farming, health and society.

“Topics like regenerative food systems, agroforestry, food and mental health, certification systems, drought resilience and alternative models for land stewardship will all feature on the menu.”

Speakers include agroecologist and educator, Nicole Masters, Felice Jacka - a leader in the new field of ‘nutritional psychiatry’ which explores how what we eat influences our brain, mood, and mental health, and Australian farmer and food writer Matthew Evans.

Eat NZ chief executive Angela Clifford, co-steward Mangaroa Farms and Biome Trust, Matthew Monaghan, and 2024 NZ Organic, Regenerative Farmer of the Year Russell and Charlotte Heald, who are dairy farmers in Tararua are also booked to speak.

Bailey says the idea for Underground Festival sprouted at Groundswell UK – a regenerative farming event held on an arable farm which has grown to more than 5,000 attendees over two days.

These are mostly farmers, but now in its eighth year, it’s said to attract people from across the food system.

“I was really moved by the positive impact that events like this can have on farmers and growers. Coming together on farm, sharing progress, innovation and ideas in a social setting with great food. It brings joy and connection to work that can often feel isolating and hard.

“While the regenerative movement in Aotearoa New Zealand is making great strides, our farmers, growers and food system change-makers need a similar space to break bread, connect and walk the whenua (land) together,” says Bailey.

“More than anything, Underground Festival is about fostering hope for a healthy, thriving future. Above ground and below.”

Two-day event tickets start at $325 ex GST, with options to add camping and glamping accommodation onsite.